Window-shade fixture.



H. W. GLOUGH;

WINDOW SHADE FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1912.

1,082,736. Patented Dec. 30, 1913. o 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 5/ 4 M 7 7 I 5 ,23 I V I 6 9.9 6 4 7 i Q 34* 35 Z tor flaw m0 Attorneys I Witnesses V w by H. W. OLOUGH.

. WINDOW SHADE FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1912.

1,082,736. Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

j 0 .9 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. i l

Q Attorneys HENRY W. CLOUGI-I, OF SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

WINDOW-SHADE FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

Application filed October 9, 1912. Serial No. 724,868;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. CLoUeH, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful lVindow-Shade Fixture, of which the following is a specification.

One object of the present invention is to provide a pair of shade-supports of novel form and to provide novel means for holding the supports assembled with the shaderoller.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for operating and controlling the fiexible elements whereby the shade support and the shade are raised and lowered.

Nith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the invention in elevation, applied to a Windowframe; Fig. 2 is an elevation showing one member of the cord grip; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the cord grip; Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the shade-supports; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the cord-grip; Fig. 6 is a section showing a modified form of cord grip; Fig. 7 is a fragmental longitudinal section showing a modified form of the invention; Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the modification shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a front elevation showing a modified form of the invention applied to a window frame; Fig. 10 is a perspective showing one end of one of the supports; Fig. 11 is a perspective of the pulley which is mounted on the window frame; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the pulley shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the cord grip used in connection with that form of the invention which appears in Fig. 9; Fig. 1a is a longitudinal section of the cord grip; and Fig. 15 is a transverse section of the cord grip.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the frame of a window, the numeral 2 indicating a shade-roller which may be of a well known, spring-actuated Hart-shorn type, and the numeral 3 indicating the curtain which is wound about the roller 2.

In carrying out the invention, a pair of shade-supports 4 is provided, each support being in the form of a rod, having a depending finger 5 at one end, the finger terminating in an eye 6 disposed transversely of the support 4. At its opposite end, the shadesupport is provided with an eye 7 parallel to the eye 6. It will be understood that, as is common in the art, one of the eyes 6 is adapted to receive one end of the shaderoller, for rotation, the other of the eyes 6 being adapted to hold the spindle of the shade-roller against rotation, so that the spring may be put under tension. These details are well known and clearly understood and require no specific delineation. A secondary eye 8 is provided, this eye being parallel to the eyes 6 and 7. The extremities of the eye 8 are twisted about the support 4. The construction is such that under a strong manual pressure, theeye 8 may be slid along the support 4. However, the eye 8 grips the support 4 frictionally, to such an extent that the eye cannot be slid along the support a by the weight of the curtain, or by a pull exerted upon the curtain to lower the same. The utility of the element last above described will be manifest when other structural features of the invention are more clearly understood.

The invention includes a cord grip, which may be of any desired form. In the present instance, the cord grip is shown as comprising a back plate 10 and a front plate 11. Projecting from the back plate 10 are studs 12, 14 and 15, disposed opposite to other studs which are located upon the front plate 11. The studs 12, 14 and 15 of the back plate are equipped at their ends with bosses 16 which register in recesses 17 in the ends of similar studs upon the front plate, one stud 12 on the front plate being shown as typical, the bosses 16 and the recesses 17 constituting interlocking elements which prevent the plates 10 and 11 from shifting their relative positions, in a parallel direction. The plates 11 and 10 are prevented from separating transversely, and the bosses 16 are maintained engaged in the recesses 17 through the medium of a connecting element 18 which may be a screw or bolt, uniting the plates 10 and 11. The back plate 10 is equipped with outstanding cars 19, adapted to receive securing elements, whereby the cord grip may be secured to the window frame 1, adjacent the upper right hand corner thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. Outstanding from the back plate 10 is an angular shoulder 20. A lever 21 is mounted to swing upon the mating studs, the free end of the lever 21 being constrained to bear against the shoulder 20, by means of a retractile spring 22, one end of which is secured to the lever 21, the other end of which is engaged with the stud 15. naled for rotation upon the mating studs 12 and 12 is a sheave 33.

An operating member is provided, the same being denoted by the numeral 23, and being provided at its upper end with a transverse head 24, terminating in rectangularly disposed hooks 25, the hooks 25 being pivotally engaged in the front plate 11, so that the operating member may swing to and fro, transversely of the cord grip. The operat ing member 23 is equipped with an angu larly disposed upper arm 25, terminating in an eye 27. A flexible element 28 is connected with the eye 27 and with the lever 21. The operating member 23 is provided adjacent its lower end with an angularly disposed arm 29 terminating in an eye 30.

A pulley 31 is held for rotation in a suitable support, and in the upper left hand corner of the window frame 1. A flexible element 32 is provided, the same being looped upon itself to form two branches 3 1 and 35. Both branches 3% and 35 of the flexible element 32 are passed upwardly through the eye 30 of the operating member 23, and thence are led along one face of the shoulder 20, and over the tread of the sheave 33, the branches 3st and 35 passing thence, out of the cord grip. The branch 34 is trained over the pulley 31 and through the eye 8 of the shade-support which is at the left hand end of the roller 2, it being under stood that the eyes 6 of the respective supports a are engaged with the shafts at the ends of the roller 2, the supports a extending toward each other, along the top of the roller. After passing through the eye 8 of the left hand support 1, the branch 3% is thence extended through the eye 7 of the left hand support, the extremity of the branch 3st being secured to the right hand support, as indicated at 36, in the angle defined by the eye 7 of the right hand support, and the body portion of the support. The branch 35 is carried through the eyes 8 and 7 of the right hand support, and is terminally secured, as indicated at 37, to the left hand support, in the angle defined by the eye 7 and the body portion of the left hand suport. P It is to be noted that from the pulley 31 to the eye 8 of the left hand support, and from the tread of the sheave 33 to the eye 8 of the right hand support, the branches 34 and 35 of the flexible element 32, respectively,

Jourconverge, it being possible to slide the eyes 8, by the application of a considerable force, along the supports 4, until this converging relation is secured. Owing to the fact that the branches 3et and 35 converge as above described, it will be seen that the weight of the roller 2 and of the curtain 3 will tend to slide the supports 4 toward each other, and to maintain the eyes 6 of the supports in engagement with the shafts of the roller 2.

\Vhen it is desired to raise or lower the curtain roller 2 bodily, the free, depending end of the member 32 is seized, and the operating member 23 is swung outwardly at its lower end, whereupon the upper arm 26 of the operating member will exert a pull upon the flexible element 28, the flexible element. 28 exerting a pull upon the lever 21 and putting the spring 22 under tension. When the free end of the lever 21 is tilted in the manner above described, the lever will no longer bind the flexible element 32 against the shoulder 20, and consequently, when the pull upon the flexible member 32 is continued, both branches 3 1 and 35 of the flexible element will pass over the sheave 33, and the curtain roller 2 will be elevated bodily.

lVhen the flexible element 32 is drawn upon, and when the operating member 23 is swung outwardly, the lever 21 being thereby released, the flexible element may be slacked away, thereupon the shade, due to its own weight will move downwardly.

As soon as manual tension upon the flexible element 32 is relieved, the spring 22 will swing the free end of the lever 21 against the shoulder 20, the spring 22 serving also, through the medium of the lever 21 and the flexible element 28, to swing the inner end of the operating member 23 inwardly, and toward the frame 1.

In Fig. 6, wherein a modified form of cord grip is shown, there is depicted a casing 50, having an extension 51, in which is journaled a sheave 52. Fulcrumed in the casing 50 is a lever 53, the fulcrum of the lever 53 being indicated at 54. The free end of lever 53 is adapted to bear against one wall 55 of the casing, so as to bind the flexible element whereby the shade or curtain is upheld, the function of the sheave 52 being obvious. The lever 53 is thrust against the wall 55 by means of a spring 56, coiled around a pin 57, secured to the casing, one end of the spring 56 bearing against the lever 53, and the other end of the spring bearing against one wall 58 of the casing. If desired, a flexible element 59 may be secured to the lever 53, the flexible element 59 passing through an opening 60 in the bottom of the casing and constituting a means whereby the lever 53 may be manipulated.

It is entirely obvious, that the lower free edge of the shade 3 may be secured to the window frame, whereupon, when the roller 2 is raised and lowered in the manner hereinbefore set forth, the space existing between the roller and the top of the window may be adjusted.

In that form of the invention Which appears in Figs. 7 and 8, the casing is denoted generally by the numeral 70. The lever is indicated at 71, the same being provided with upstanding cars 72 through which passes a pivot pin 73, the ends of the pin 78 being mounted in the casing 70. A spring 74 is coiled about the pivot element 78, one end 75 of the spring 74 exerting a thrust against one end wall of the case, the other end of the spring, denoted by the numeral 76, being engaged through the lever 71 so as to lift the free end of the lever and to cause the same to operate in the same manner as does the element 58 in Fig. 6. The operating member through which the cord passes, is denoted by the numeral 77, the

same being fulcrumed to swing upon a bracket 78, secured to the case, one end 79 of the operating member extending into the case, above the lever 71 and bearing upon the lever. As will be readily understood, when the lower end of the operating member 77 is swung outwardly, lever 71 will be depressed by the portion 79 of the operating member, the cord being thereupon set free.

In that form of the invention which appears in the Figs. 9 to 15, the window frame is indicated by the numeral 80. Mounted upon the window frame 80 is a support, denoted generally by the numeral 81, the support 81, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 comprising a straight plate 82, and an angularly formed plate 83, both of which are provided with outstanding, hollow extensions 84, in which the ends of the sheave 85 are journaled to the end that the cord may not be engaged between the sheave 85 and the plates 82 and 88. The sheave 85 is equipped with an axle 86, the ends of which are j ournaled in openings 87 in the plates 82 and 83.

Mounted upon one corner of the window frame 80 is the cord grip, the same being denoted generally by the numeral 88. The cord grip 88 comprises a case 89 and a closure 90, the closure 90 being provided with a flange 91 which incloses the case 89. The closure 90 and the case 89 are held together by a bolt 92, and the case 89 is equipped with ears 93, whereby the cord grip may be connected with. the window frame 80. The closure 90 and the case 89 are provided with alined extensions 94, having outstanding, hollow portions 95, receiving the ends of a pulley 96, the axle 97 of which is journaled in openings in the extensions 94.

A lever 98 is provided, the same having a knuckle 99 which surrounds the bolt 92. A spring 100 is, coiled around the pivot bolt 92, one end of the spring bearing against one end wall of the case 89, the other end of the spring 100 passing through an opening 101 in the lever 98, and engaging with the lower face of the lever, to thrust the free end of the lever against that end wall of the case 89 which is denoted specifically by the numeral 102.

In the closure 90 is formed an opening 108, and below the opening 103 are formed openings 104, the material removed in the forming of the openings 10% being bent outwardly to form ears 105, receiving a pivot pin 106, upon which is mounted to swing, an operating member 107, provided at its upper end with an angular extension 108 which is prolonged through the opening 108, and bears upon the upper face of the lever 98. The operating member 107 is equipped at its lower end with an eye 109.

A pair of shade supports 110 are shown, ends of the shade supports being overlapped upon each other as indicated at 111, the ends of the shade supports 110 being provided with eyes 112, the eye 112 of one support engaging the other support, to the end that the supports 110 may be adjusted longitudinally upon each other. Each support 110 at its ends, terminates in a downwardly extended arm 11 1 provided with a hook 115, there being a finger 116 projecting laterally from the end of the hook 115, an extension 117 upstanding from the end of the finger 116. The extensions 117 terminate in eyes 118, adapted to engage the spindles 119 of the shade roller 120, about which the shade 121 is wound. The finger 116 and the extension 117 lie in a plane in advance of the plane in which the arm 11% and the support proper 110 are located. In the hooks 115 may be placed a curtain rod 122.

Upon the finger 116 is mounted an eye 123, the extremities of the eye being twisted as indicated at 124, about the finger 116. The eye 128 is engaged with the finger 116 frictionally, so that the eye may be slid along the finger when strong pressure is applied to the eye. However, the frictional engage ment between the eye 128 and the finger 116 is such that the eye cannot be slid along the finger during the operation of the structure. The eyes 128 of the two supports 110 are connected by a flexible member 125, preferably a cord, the length of which may be increased or decreased at will.

A flexible member 126 is engaged in the angle 127 of one support 110, the flexible element 126 being trained over the sheave 85 which is carried by the support 81. Another flexible element 128 is engaged in the angle of the other support 110, the flexible element 128 being united with the flexible element 126, the united ends of the flexible elements being passed over the sheave 96 and being extended downwardly between the end of the lever 198 and the wall 102 of the casing 89, the flexible elements being then carried through an opening 130 in the bottom of the case 89, and being extended through the eye 109 of the operating member 107. As set forth in a preceding form of the invention, the flexible elements 126 and 128 converge from the angles 127 of the supports 110, to the sheaves 85 and 96 respectively.

The flexible element 125 serves to prevent the eyes 118 from being separated beyond a predetermined distance. However, by sliding the eyes 123 forcibly along the fingers 116, the distance between the eyes 118 may be adjusted, so as to receive curtain rollers of different lengths.

Owing to the fact that the flexible elements 128 are inclined, the supports 110 are pulled in opposite directions, and the eyes 118 are prevented from binding against the ends of the roller 120.

Broadly considered, that form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises shade supports 1 slidable with respect to each other, spaced supporting members 31 and 33, flexible elements 34: and 35 trained respectively around the supporting members 31 and 33 and connected with the shade supports 41, and a connection between the supports 4, the connection being represented by the shade roller 2. In that form of the invention which is depicted in Fig. 9, the supports are shown at 110, the supporting members at 85 and 96, the flexible elements at j 126 and 128, and the connection between the shade supports at 125.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the class described, slidably connected shade supports; eyes slidable upon the shade supports and friction ally held upon the shade supports; and a connection between the eyes.

2. In a device of the class described, slidably connected supports, having depending pole supporting hooks terminating in laterally extended fingers; eyes slidable upon the fingers; and a connect-ion between the eyes.

3. In a device of the class described, slidably connected supports provided with depending, pole holding hooks terminating in lateral fingers having upright extensions, the extensions being provided with roller holding means; eyes slidable upon the fingers; and a connection between the eyes.

4. In a device of the class described, a shade supporting structure; a frame; a pulley journaled 0n the frame; a cord grip secured to the frame and including a sheave; flexible elements passed about the pulley and about the sheave and connected with the shade supporting structure; a movable member, constituting a part of the cord grip, and adapted to engage the flexible elements; and a pivotally mounted operating member, constituting a portion of the cord grip, the flexible elements being connected with the operating member, and the operating memher being operatively connected with the movable member to disengage the same from the flexible elements.

5. In a device of the class described, shade supports slidable with respect to each other; spaced supporting members and flexible elements trained about the supporting members, the flexible elements being connected with the shade supports, the flexible elements diverging from their points of attachment with the shade supports, toward the supporting members; and a connection between the shade sup-ports.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY W CLOUGH.

IVitnesses:

IV. L. KEETI-ILER, C. F. SHEFFIELD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

